TOWING HITCH WITH CLEARANCE FOR USE WITH STEP-EQUIPPED TAILGATES
Embodiments disclosed herein relate to apparatus and methods for a stowable towing hitch for a towing vehicle with a step-equipped tailgate. Embodiments of the stowable towing hitch allow unencumbered utilization of the step-equipped tailgate without the need to remove the stowable towing hitch from the towing vehicle.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/940,065, filed Nov. 25, 2019, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND FieldEmbodiments disclosed herein relate to a towing hitch that mounts securely onto a receiver hitch of a towing vehicle, and adjusts and/or folds to provide clearance behind the towing vehicle. In particular, towing hitches that are designed for use with step-equipped tailgates but can be used on most vehicles having conventional receiver hitches.
Description of the Related ArtTowing hitches are devices used to attach a trailer to a towing vehicle. The most common type of hitch for recreation and/or work vehicles is the bumper pull. On this type of hitch, a tongue of a trailer is attached to a receiver hitch that is accessible from a rear end of the towing vehicle. The towing hitch is commonly inserted into the receiver hitch that is attached to a frame of the towing vehicle.
There are several common problems with this style of towing hitch. The first problem is hitch height. The towing hitch may need to be at several heights to accommodate various vehicle receiver hitch heights as well as various trailer tongue heights. A second problem is that towing hitches can move around or rattle in the receiver hitch. A third problem is that an installed towing hitch protrudes from the rear end of the towing vehicle which may create safety issues as well as other problems. For example, the protruding hitch is an obstacle and may cause parking issues, such as when parking in garages and/or near other vehicles. The protruding hitch could also cause clearance issues with step-equipped tailgates on some vehicles. These step-equipped tailgates require that the towing hitch be removed from the towing vehicle before utilizing some functions of the step-equipped tailgate.
What is needed is a towing hitch that alleviates one or more of the problems discussed above.
SUMMARYEmbodiments of the disclosure include a towing hitch that includes one or more features that allow use thereof with a step-equipped tailgate. In one embodiment, the towing hitch includes a mounting plate that has a profile that is recessed from conventional hitches thus providing a critical clearance enabling utilization of a step-equipped tailgate without removing the towing hitch from the vehicle.
In another embodiment, a towing hitch is disclosed that includes a mounting plate coupled to a tubular insert that is couplable to a tubular receiver member on a towing vehicle having a step-equipped tailgate, and a hitch plate coupled to the mounting plate by a hinge mechanism, the hitch plate adapted to secure a trailer ball, wherein the hinge mechanism is coupled to the mounting plate by a pivot pin that allows rotation of the hitch plate relative to the mounting plate to a stowed position such that a critical clearance between the step-equipped tailgate and the mounting plate is provided.
In another embodiment, a towing hitch is disclosed that includes a mounting plate coupled to a tubular insert that is couplable to a tubular receiver member on a towing vehicle having a step-equipped tailgate, and a hitch plate coupled to the mounting plate by a hinge mechanism, the hitch plate adapted to secure a trailer ball, wherein the hinge mechanism is coupled to the mounting plate by a pivot pin and one or more stabilizing pins, wherein by removing the one or more stabilizing pins rotation of the hitch plate relative to the mounting plate is provided such that utilization of the step-equipped tailgate is enabled without removing the tubular insert from the towing vehicle.
In another embodiment, a towing hitch is disclosed that includes a mounting plate coupled to a tubular insert that is couplable to a tubular receiver member on a towing vehicle having a step-equipped tailgate, and a hitch plate coupled to the mounting plate by a hinge mechanism, the hitch plate adapted to secure a trailer ball, wherein the hinge mechanism is coupled to the mounting plate by a pivot pin that allows rotation of the hitch plate relative to the mounting plate to a stowed position such that utilization of the step-equipped tailgate is enabled without removing the tubular insert from the towing vehicle.
The drawings present typical embodiments of the disclosure but should not be considered limiting in scope.
To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. It is contemplated that elements and features of one embodiment may be beneficially incorporated in other embodiments without further recitation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONEmbodiments disclosed herein include multiple configurations of a stowable towing hitch that has particular utility for use with a towing vehicle having a step-equipped tailgate or “multi-function” tailgate. A step-equipped or “multi-function” tailgate can be generally described as having a primary gate and a smaller internal gate incorporated within the primary gate. The primary gate is hinged like a conventional tailgate. Then, the internal gate is hinged within the primary gate panel. When a person raises or lowers these two gates in different combinations, the internal gate acts as a step. A step-equipped or “multi-function” tailgate includes tailgates marketed by General Motors Company under the tradename “MultiPro” as well as other similar tailgates from other vehicle manufacturers. The components of the various embodiments disclosed herein can be arranged in several configurations to cover a wide range of vehicles and trailers. The figures are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
The towing vehicle 100 also includes a receiver hitch 150 that is adapted to receive a towing hitch (not shown in
The receiver hitch 150 includes a tubular receiver member 205 that is typically rectangular metal tubing. The tubular receiver member 205 typically has an end that extends or protrudes past a rear of the towing vehicle 100 (shown in
The stowable towing hitch 200 includes a mounting plate 225 that is fixed or fastened to the tubular hitch member 210. The mounting plate 225 supports a hinge mechanism 228. A hitch plate 230 having a through-hole 235 where a trailer ball 240 (two are shown) is fastened to the hinge mechanism 228. The hinge mechanism 228 includes two L shaped brackets 232. The hitch plate 230 is fastened to one leg of the L shaped brackets 232 such as by a weld (not shown). The mounting plate 225 is sandwiched between the other leg of the L shaped brackets 232.
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While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present disclosure, other and further embodiments of the disclosure may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.
Claims
1. A towing hitch, comprising:
- a mounting plate having a hitch plate coupled thereto, the mounting plate having a recessed pocket that allows the mounting plate of the towing hitch to fit over an end of a tubular receiver of a towing vehicle having a step-equipped tailgate to reduce a protrusion of the hitch plate when coupled to the tubular receiver member on the towing vehicle.
2. The towing hitch of claim 1, wherein the mounting plate has a tubular or solid insert within the recessed pocket that fits into the tubular receiver of the towing vehicle, and hitch plate is secured to the mounting plate with a pin.
3. The towing hitch of claim 1, wherein the mounting plate is coupled to a tubular insert member that is inserted into the tubular receiver of the towing vehicle, and the mounting plate and the tubular insert member comprises a metal casting or is milled from a single piece of material.
4. The towing hitch of claim 1, wherein the mounting plate is coupled to a tubular insert member that is inserted into the tubular receiver of the towing vehicle, and the mounting plate and the tubular insert member are attached by a weld in the recessed pocket.
5. The towing hitch of claim 1, wherein the mounting plate includes a plurality of openings formed therethrough in a cross-machine direction, each of the openings adapted to receive a pivot pin and one or more stabilizing pins.
6. The towing hitch of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of brackets coupling the mounting plate to the hitch plate, wherein each of the brackets include one or more through-holes that align with one or more of the plurality of openings in the mounting plate each of the through-holes adapted to receive one or more stabilizing pins.
7. A towing hitch for a towing vehicle having a step-equipped tailgate, the towing hitch comprising:
- a hitch plate coupled to a mounting plate by a hinge mechanism, the hitch plate adapted to secure a trailer ball, wherein the hinge mechanism is coupled to the mounting plate by a pivot pin that allows removal or rotation of the hitch plate relative to the mounting plate to a stowed position such that a critical clearance between the step-equipped tailgate and the mounting plate is provided.
8. The towing hitch of claim 7, wherein the mounting plate includes a recessed pocket formed therein.
9. The towing hitch of claim 8, wherein the mounting plate has a tubular or solid insert within the recessed pocket that fits into a tubular receiver of the towing vehicle, and hitch plate is secured to the mounting plate with a plurality of pins.
10. The towing hitch of claim 9, wherein the mounting plate is coupled to a tubular insert member that is inserted into the tubular receiver of the towing vehicle, and the mounting plate and the tubular insert member comprises a metal casting or is milled from a single piece of material.
11. The towing hitch of claim 9, wherein the mounting plate is coupled to a tubular insert member that is inserted into the tubular receiver of the towing vehicle, and the mounting plate and the tubular insert member are attached by a weld in the recessed pocket.
12. A towing hitch, comprising:
- a mounting plate coupled to a tubular insert portion that is couplable to a tubular receiver member on a towing vehicle having a step-equipped tailgate; and
- a hitch plate coupled to the mounting plate by a hinge mechanism, the hitch plate adapted to secure a trailer ball, wherein the hinge mechanism is coupled to the mounting plate by a pivot pin that allows rotation of the hitch plate relative to the mounting plate to a stowed position such that a critical clearance between the step-equipped tailgate and the mounting plate is provided.
13. The towing hitch of claim 12, wherein the mounting plate further comprises a recessed pocket formed in a surface thereof facing the tubular insert portion.
14. The towing hitch of claim 13, wherein the pocket includes a block that is at least partially within the tubular insert portion.
15. The towing hitch of claim 13, wherein a weld is provided about a periphery of the tubular insert portion within the recessed pocket.
16. The towing hitch of claim 12, wherein the hinge mechanism includes a plurality of L-shaped brackets that are fixed to the hitch plate.
17. The towing hitch of claim 16, wherein the mounting plate includes a plurality of openings formed therethrough in a cross-machine direction, each of the openings adapted to receive the pivot pin and one or more stabilizing pins.
18. The towing hitch of claim 17, wherein each of the L-shaped brackets include one or more through-holes that align with one or more of the plurality of openings in the mounting plate each of the through-holes adapted to receive the pivot pin and the one or more stabilizing pins.
19. The towing hitch of claim 12, wherein the stowed position comprises rotating the hinge mechanism 90 degrees relative to a towing position.
20. The towing hitch of claim 12, wherein the stowed position comprises rotating the hinge mechanism 180 degrees relative to a towing position.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 17, 2020
Publication Date: May 27, 2021
Inventor: Joseph DRURY (Friendswood, TX)
Application Number: 16/950,024